New York, NY asked in Traffic Tickets for New York

Q: Can a moving violation be turned into a jaywalking ticket?

As brief of a summary possible: got pulled over in May for crossing a solid white line to get into a left turn lane, the cop wrote the ticket wrong and said I turned from the center lane so I plead not guilty and had my hearing this morning.

When I got there the clerk (? Could have been an ADA?) offered to downgrade the moving violation (failure to obey a traffic device) to a jaywalking ticket, a smaller fine and no points.

I took it because I can’t risk my insurance rates going up because of points but my main question is - is this a thing? Can they really just change a moving violation that happened in a car to a jaywalking ticket?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Howard E. Knispel
PREMIUM
Howard E. Knispel
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Commack, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: Yes it is a thing. The traffic agency wants the money. They don't really care about the points if it is a first offense. This is a frequent offer and should almost always be taken.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.